Method and apparatus for communication using a distributed multiplexed bus
AssigneeSonic, Inc.
InventorsJeffrey A. Ebert, Geert Rosseel, Michael J. Meyer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus having a first and second bus is disclosed. In one embodiment, multiple units are coupled to the first and second buses. The units include a middle unit and two side units. Each side unit has a first bus output coupled to a first bus input of the middle unit. The middle unit has a second bus output coupled to a second bus input of each side unit.
Claims26
An apparatus comprising:
- a first bus;
- a second bus;
- a plurality of units coupled to the first and second buses, the units including a middle unit, a first side unit and a second side unit;
- each side unit having a first bus output coupled to a first bus input of the middle unit;
- the middle unit having a second bus output coupled to a second bus input of each side unit and a combiner coupled to the first bus inputs and the second bus outputs of the middle unit.
An apparatus comprising:
- a first bus;
- a second bus;
- at least one side units coupled to the first or second buses, the units including a middle unit, a first side unit and a second side unit;
- each side unit having a first bus output coupled to a first bus input of the middle unit;
- the middle unit having a second bus output coupled to a second bus input of each side unit and a combiner coupled to the first bus inputs and the second bus outputs of the middle unit;
- where the side units may be merging side units.
A method comprising:
- transmitting data from a first side unit to a first bus;
- transmitting data from the first bus to a middle unit;
- combining data received in the middle unit from the first bus;
- transmitting combined data from the middle unit to a second bus;
- and
- transmitting data from the second bus to a second side unit.
An apparatus comprising a repeater and combiner unified in one circuit that can be in at least one unit to create an interconnect structure.
In an interconnect structure comprising at least two units and at least one bus structure coupled to the at least two units, a unified interconnect circuit comprising of a repeater and combiner, the inputs and outputs of which are selectively connected to implement different types of units.
A method comprising:
- providing an interconnect structure comprising at least one unit and at least one bus connecting the units;
- providing a unified interconnect circuit comprising a repeater and a combiner;
- selectively connecting combiner outputs and repeater output to combiner inputs and repeater inputs to implement different types of units.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.